Smoldering Combustion of Cellulosic Materials

Abstract

In comparison to flaming combustion, the smoldering process seems more complex and is poorly understood. When heated by an ignition source, cellulosic materials decompose to volatile products and char. The volatile products fuel the flaming combustion which rapidly spreads in the gas phase. The slower oxidation of the char provides the heat flux required for propagation of the smoldering combustion. The initiation, propagation and termination of the latter process are controlled by several interrelated factors, including composition of the substrate, in organic additives, rates of heat release and heat flux and the combustibility of the char and volatile products, which are discussed.